The most skilled strikers are double- and triple-teamed and still find ways to score.

Serrano’s Kellsie Gleason was the focus of opposing defenses all season but found a way to put the ball in the net 38 times this season. She is The Sun’s 2014 Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

“She gets doubled and tripled pretty much the entire season – including playoffs – and she still found a way to get the job done,” Serrano coach Dave Molina said. “She had to become more of a physical force.”

Gleason said she put immense effort into strengthening her positioning and awareness – more than ever before – and it resulted in one of the most prolific scoring seasons in the history of girls prep soccer in the High Desert.

“I just worked and worked on getting stronger and on so many other things,” Gleason said. “That’s what’s so great about soccer -- there’s so much to do to get better that it never gets boring. Not for me any way.”

The 6-foot-1 forward joined prestigious youth club SoCal Blues seven months ago and admits that her skills improved to the point where she was almost overwhelmed by the attention she received from one Southeastern Conference university.

“Auburn started following me around and it was kind of crazy,” Gleason said. “But I’m so excited and I love the university, the area and being in the SEC. The level of competition is so high.”

Molina would not go so far as to rate Gleason – the first player from the D’backs soccer program to sign a scholarship to an SEC school – is the best he’s coached but she’s in his top four.

“We’ve had some very good strikers in the last 10 years with Amber Spencer (graduated in 2007) Corinne Tarver (‘08) and Katie Pound (‘11). Kelsey (‘14) is definitely near the top, joining some of our best,” said Molina, who was coached at Serrano for 18 years.

“She’s very good with her left foot with good power and I think from my prospective she shot with better angles that she had in the past and was more effective than the increased strength was that she’s learning the angles,” Molina said. “That’s a sign of not just playing hard but playing smart.”

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COACH OF THE YEAR

Jacob Geverians, Citrus Valley

How Jacob Geverians has been able to stay ahead of the curve is anybody’s guess.

Geverians, The Sun’s 2013-’14 Girls Soccer Coach of the Year, has won three consecutive CIF-Southern Section titles in two different divisions and is now about to make the biggest jump in the program’s history – into the Citrus Belt League next season.

“We’re going to do what we do best and see what happens,” said Geverians, now 56-12-3 the last three seasons.

The Blackhawks (27-3-1 overall) defeated Oxnard Pacifica 1-0 for this season’s CIF-SS Division 6 title following another unblemished league record (20-0 the last two seasons) en route to their third consecutive Mountain Valley League title.

“This year’s team was the most cohesive of the three-year run,” Geverians said. “It was the tightest group. We were all on the same page and it made it really easy for me.”

FIRST TEAM

Victoria Bolden, Senior, Forward, Los Osos

Scored 16 goals on 50 shots, earning the team’s Golden Boot Award. First team All-CIF Division 1 and Baseline League. Signed with Cal.

Janelle Flores, Senior, Goalkeeper, Serrano

She had a stretch of 14 straight shutouts for the Division 4 finalists and has signed a National Letter of Intent with Boise State. She was also an all-CIF Division 4 selection.

Valeria Garcia, Senior, Defender, Yucaipa

An all-Sun selection last year, Garcia was named the Citrus Belt League’s defensive MVP for the Thunderbirds, who allowed just four goals in 10 league games.

Ashley Gonzales, Senior, Forward, Chino Hills

The Division 2 Player of the Year after scoring 38 goals for the CIF champions. She had seven hat tricks this season, including two in the state regional playoffs. She has committed to play in college at Long Beach State.

Allison Herrin, Senior, Defender, Citrus Valley

A big part of Citrus Valley’s senior class that won three straight CIF-SS titles. This year, she was selected all-CIF Division 6 and was the Mountain Valley League’s defensive MVP.

Karen Jacobs, Freshman, Forward/Midfielder, Redlands

The talented Jacobs first made her mark athletically in high school running for the cross country team, where she finished second at the Citrus Belt League Finals and was a first-team all-Sun selection. In soccer, she helped lead the Terriers to the league title, and was named Citrus Belt League offensive MVP. In 24 games, she tallied 16 goals with 10 assists to lead the Terriers.

Loren Landrus, Senior, Midfielder, Citrus Valley

A first-team all-Sun selection last year, she scored eventual game-winner in CIF-SS D6 title game. She was also an all-CIF selection this year.

Annia Mejia, Senior, Defender, Bloomington

The Sunkist League MVP for the league champions, who was also all-CIF all four years. She was versatile enough to play every position on the field during her career at Bloomington.

Dani Perez, Sophomore, Defender, Grand Terrace

She is one of the key members of the Titans’ talented sophomore class. Selected All-CIF Division 5 after leading Grand Terrace to a runner-up finish in the Sunkist League and a second-round playoff appearance.

Amairani Rosales, Senior, Midfielder, Rialto

The San Andreas League’s offensive Player of the Year for the league chamnpions, Among the highlights was a hat trick against San Bernardino on Jan. 28. She was selected all-CIF Division 6.

Ashlee Smith, Junior, Midfielder, Citrus Valley

The MVP of CIF Division 6, she scored the winning goal in the CIF semifinals for the eventual champs. She was also named the offensive MVP of the Mountain Valley League this season.